Method of treating fabric



(3. E HERRING METHOD OF TREATING FABRIC Filed April 16, 1951 R V O T N E V m Be urge E. Herring ATTORNEYS.

BYZ

Patented June 27-, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE E. HEBBING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS METHOD OF TREATING FABRIC Application filed April 16, 1931. Serial No. 530,681.

The present invention relates to a method of treating fabric and more particularly to the treatment of such preferably while in web form, well adapted-for use tarnishproof containers ofthe character shown in Patent #1.,791,5947, granted to me. February 10, 193l, and in my co-pending application for patent, SerialNumber 467,871, filed July 14, 1930. It is to be understood, however, that the treated cloth may be used for purposes other than in such containers, especially when it is desired to arrest or diminish the tarnishing influence of sulphurated hydrogen and sulphur dioxide, as present in the atmosphere, and still use the fabric as a decorative medium.

Among the rincipal objects of the invention are to provide a method whereby the fabric may be made to act as a carrier for an anti-tarnish chemical in a manner insuring an even distribution of the chemical, and lacking spottiness, matting of the nap, and shrinkage which usually occurs if the fabric is dipped or submerged in a liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method by which the fabric may be charged with a lar e quantity of chemical without detracting rom its appearance as a decorative medium and without rendering it likely to scratch the silverware with which it contacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method which is comparatively inexpensive to practice, economical in the use of chemical, and which may be carried out with speed so that the fabric may be put to use or applied as a container lining shortly after treatment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section showing equipment which may be used in practicmg the method.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section thru portions of the web oi treated fabric,

In the drawing A designates a support for a roll B of untreated fabric; a comb; D a spray gun; E a treatment housing; and F a support for a roll G of treated fabric. In the example shown the fabric includes a base H and nap K. I

The treatment housing is preferably shaped, and the spray gun D so located, as to provide a spraying 'zone L, and a mist zone M, and the support F is preferably located so remote from the housing E as to provide a drying zone 0.

In the example shown, the support A com prises a standard 3 and a mandrel 4 on which the roll B of fabric may revolve.

The comb C may comprise a base 5 and teeth or bristles 6, preferably made from fine brass wire, its use being to loosen any matted nap and to cause the nap to stand in a substantially uniform direction from its base H.

The spray gun D may be of any suitable type, including a nozzle 7 directed toward the opening 8 of treatment housing E in such a manner as to provide the spraying zone L.

In the example shown the housing E comprises a base plate 9, companion side walls like that shown at 10, a rear wall 11 and a top wall 12, the rear wall 11 having an opening 13 thru which the run of fabric 14 passes to the drying zone 0 in the example shown, the support F comprises a standard 15 and a mandrel 16 upon which the treated roll G of fabric is wound.

According to the arrangement of apparatus shown, the web of fabric extends upwardlv from the roll B, around the rounded edge 17 of base plate 9, then above and restin on the base plate during its passage thru the housing E, and is finally connected to the mandrel 16, the run 18 of fabric between the housing E and roll being preferably unsupported except at ends so that the chemical may dry to a certain extent, either as a result ofldirected heat, or the normal heat of the room in which the apparatus is located.

The comb C is preferably located adjacent the rounded edge of base plate 9 in advance at the spraying none.

Any suitable anti-tarnish chemical may be used,having an aifinity for sulfids. A suitable chemical is a solution of acetate of lead, preferably in the proportion of four pounds of acetate of lead to one gallon of water.

The fabric may be flannel, velvet or other suitable fabric having a pile or nap at one or both sides of the base. In the example shown, the fabric has nap at one side only,

this being material suitable to be pasted as a lining in tarnishproof containers. The fabric, in web form, is usually furnished by the manufacturer in rolls, with the nap outermost and in the treatment of the fabric it is preferred to again roll the material into roll form with the nap outermost, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The spray gun is so adjusted as to deliver sufficient solution to settle between the nap strands upon the base H of the fabric, and to create a mist in the housing E, which settles on the nap, thus supplyln and exposing a large quantity of material aving an aflinity for sulfids. The support F may be located sufficiently remote from the housing E that a portion of the liquid will be evaporated or driven off before the fabric is wound into roll form at G,

and the speed of travel between the housing E and support F may be regulated so that all of the moisture is not driven off, thus permitting the nap K to transfer some of the chemical to the untreated side of the fabric, it being absorbed by the base of the fabric as same is wound into roll form.

In the passage of the fabric thru the housing E to the roll G, it is stretched. This may be accomplished by'resisting to a certain extent rotation orthe roll B, or pressure of the comb C upon the fabric, or both, or any other procedure may be followed which does not have a tendency to mat the nap while passing thru the housing E and after passing therefrom, since any subsequent brushing of the nap has a tendency to remove the chemical. K

It is to be understood that the apparatus herein shown is merely by way of example, since the method may be practiced by the use of various equipment without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it may not be necessary to pass the fabric thru all three zones L, M and 0, much depending on the texture of the fabric and the use to which it is put in practice.

I claim:

1. The method of treating napped fabric in web form, for tarnishproof silverware containers which consists in, combing the nap to cause it to stand out from the base of the fabric, stretching the fabric, spraying an anti-tarnish chemical upon one face of the fabric while the fabric is in stretched v tween the web of fabric and a sprayed antitarnish chemical directed to settle u on one face of the fabric, and then winding the fabric into roll form before the chemical dries so that the chemical moisture is partially absorbed at the unsprayed face of the fabric. I

3. The method oftreating napped fabric for tarnishproof containers which comprises combing the nap to cause it to stand out from the base of the fabric, stretching the fabric, and spraying an anti-tarnish chemical upon the nap and fabric base while the fabric is in a stretched condition.

4. The method of treating napped fabric for tarnishproof silverware containers which comprises, combing the nap to cause it to stand out from the base of the fabric, and spraying an anti-tarnish chemical upon the nap and fabric base.

5. The method of treating napped fabric for tarnishproof silverware containers which comprises, combing the nap to stand in a substantially uniform direction from the base, and spraying an anti-tarnish chemical upon the fabric in the said direction of the nap whereby the solution mingles between the nap strands and upon the fabric base.

\ GEORGE E. HERRING." 

